Residents of Evergreen Village can continue living in mobile home community, IRAC rules

People living in the mobile home community of Evergreen Village can continue to stay on the property for now. After the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission ruled the park owner's eviction notices were invalid, one Islander says her immediate reaction to the news was relief. We're really fortunate that they agreed with the case we were arguing and that it has now bought us the time to work out what we're foreseeing as a potential sale of the park. People in Evergreen Village have spent the last two years fighting to stay in their homes after owner Clifford McQuaid said he wanted to sell the property because the park was costing too much to run. They received eviction letters and filed an appeal with IRAC. It recently ruled in the resident's favor, saying McQuaid didn't follow the correct eviction process. Walsh says everyone in the community has been under an extreme amount of pressure, which caused health and financial issues. One of my friends down the road has passed, she was elderly, but she spent her final days worrying about where she was going to live and spoke to our city councillor three or four days before she passed and that's what she said. So that's been really hard and difficult. We've had four of our friends and neighbours move out of the park who just thought that waiting or trying to sort out a deal was too much of a risk. They've taken on financial risks to do so. Walsh says there could be more good news on the horizon. Right now, there are a few non-profit organizations who are interested in buying the property, and she says she feels confident it will be sold. It's a really hard position that we're in because even though we live here and our homes are here, we are not part of that transaction. So all we can do is offer our support, open communication to any potential buyers, And just say that, like, listen, we're willing to do what we need to do to improve. to support the sale and and we're here and open to those conversations. McQuaid can file an appeal within 20 days of the order. He says he hopes a sale can be made. If the park sells he says he won't appeal the IRAC decision but if there's no sale then he will appeal. Taylor O'Brien, CBC News, Summerside.